Retaliation, regime change, sleeper cells and impeachment: The looming questions within the wake of Trump’s assault on Iran | EUROtoday

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President Donald Trump bombed Iran’s nuclear services simply weeks after Israel started attacking the nation over considerations it was growing a nuclear weapon.

What occurs subsequent? Should Americans count on retaliation from Iran? If so, the place, and in what kind?

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that what occurs subsequent will largely be as much as Iran and its response to the U.S.’s bombing.

“If the regime wants peace, we’re ready for peace. If they want to do something else, they’re incredibly vulnerable. They can’t even protect their own airspace,” Rubio stated on CBS’s Face the Nation.

How did the US assault Iran?

On June 21, Trump initiated Operation Midnight Hammer, which noticed B-2 bombers and missiles strike Iran’s nuclear services the place the U.S. and Israel imagine Iran was enriching uranium to be used in nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump celebrated the U.S. bombing attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling them a ‘spectacular success’

President Donald Trump celebrated the U.S. bombing assault on Iran’s nuclear services, calling them a ‘spectacular success’

The Natanz and Isfahan nuclear websites had been hit by a salvo of 30 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles — cruise missiles with a variety of at the least 1,000 miles — fired from American submarines. At the Fordow nuclear website, which is positioned a whole bunch of ft underground, as many as six 30,000 munitions often known as Massive Ordnance Penetrators — that are referred to by the Air Force designation GBU-57A/B — hit the location.

The MOP so-called bunker-buster bombs had been designed particularly to assault and destroy hardened services comparable to Fordow that are in any other case shielded from typical munitions.

The bombs used in opposition to Fordow had been dropped from B-2 Spirit stealth bombers flying out of Whitman Air Force Base in Missouri.

Will Iran retaliate?

No one is aware of, maybe not even Iranian leaders.

Tehran might select to not retaliate in an effort to reopen diplomatic choices with the U.S., although its unclear if that might cease Israel from persevering with to launch missiles into its territory.

Iran accuses Trump of mendacity to his voters and betraying democracy

In 2020, after Trump assassinated Iranian normal Qassim Suleimani, Iran launched a wave of missile assaults in opposition to U.S. troops in Iraq, however then pulled again from additional retaliation, presumably with a purpose to keep away from a bigger regional conflict. Iran might proceed similarly now.

It’s unclear if Ayatollah Khamenei will search to re-establish diplomatic avenues with Trump.

What can Iran do to the U.S.?

Iran might search to assault U.S. troops or U.S. belongings within the area. The United States has about 40,000 troops stationed throughout the Middle East, in additional than a dozen nations together with in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE, and on ships within the area.

It might additionally goal U.S. commerce. Tehran might attempt to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, reducing off an important transport lane and blocking oil tankers from coming into or leaving the Persian Gulf. Iran additionally has cyberwarfare capabilities or it might work with allied components to hold out proxy assaults on U.S. and Israeli pursuits within the area.

U.S. denies Trump’s ‘Midnight Hammer’ bombing raid on nuclear websites was about regime change

Is the U.S. at conflict?

Officially, the U.S. must declare conflict, which requires Congressional approval.

But that’s principally a formality. The U.S. didn’t declare conflict on Afghanistan or Iraq however nonetheless was concerned in “boots on the ground” armed battle in each nations.

Asked immediately throughout an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker whether or not the U.S. was now at conflict with Iran, Vice President JD Vance replied: “No Kristen, we’re not at war with Iran, we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program.”

Is the U.S. aiming for regime change?

There have been blended messages from the Trump administration about whether or not they’re making an attempt to convey down the Ayatollah’s regime. The U.S. said that regime change was an purpose in its 2003 invasion of Iraq – one thing it achieved however at very nice price and leaving a protracted and controversial legacy.

Vance informed NBC’s Kristen Welker on Sunday morning: “Our view has been very clear that we don’t want a regime change. We do not want to protract this or build this out any more than it’s already been built out. We want to end their nuclear program and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here.”

However, a number of hours later, Trump appeared to contradict him with a publish on his social media website: “It’s not politically correct to use the term, “Regime Change,” but when the present Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”

JD Vance and Donald Trump in the White House situation room on the day the U.S. bombed three nuclear sites in Iran

JD Vance and Donald Trump within the White House scenario room on the day the U.S. bombed three nuclear websites in Iran

What is the War Powers Resolution and may Trump be impeached over the assault?

Trump’s opponents have referred to as his strike unlawful, citing the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires the president to present Congress a 48-hour notification earlier than taking any army motion. It additionally limits the deployment of U.S. armed forces to 90 days with no formal declaration of conflict.

Some Democrats have already accused Trump of violating the act.

“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, posted on X.

If Trump did violate the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, he might theoretically be impeached, however as a result of Republicans’ management of each the House and the Senate, an impeachment vote can be extraordinarily unlikely to succeed.

“This is not about the merits of Iran’s nuclear program. No president has the authority to bomb another country that does not pose an imminent threat to the US without the approval of Congress. This is an unambiguous impeachable offense,” Democratic Congressman Sean Casten wrote on X.

Trump was impeached twice in his first time period – as soon as over his dealings with Ukraine and as soon as over the January 6 rebel – however each instances Senate Republicans had been ready to make sure his acquittal.

What has Iran stated concerning the strikes?

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi accused the US of breaching worldwide regulation in a social media publish following the strike.

“The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations,” Araghchi stated.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused the Trump administration of breaching international law

Iranian international minister Abbas Araghchi accused the Trump administration of breaching worldwide regulation (AP)

He referred to as on the remainder of the UN to share in Iran’s outrage over the assault, and stated that Iran “reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people”.

“The occasions this morning [Sunday] are outrageous and can have eternal penalties. Each and each member of the UN should be alarmed over this extraordinarily harmful, lawless and legal habits,” he said.

According to a New York Times report, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has taken shelter in a bunker since the start of Israel’s missile attacks, and has named three possible successors to lead the country in the event of his assassination.

What’s the deal with sleeper cells?

Following Saturday’s strikes, which Trump claimed “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, both White House and FBI officials have been on high alert for Iranian sleeper cells.

Sleeper cells consist of spies or terrorists hiding out in the U.S. or Western countries that remain inactive, often living quiet and unassuming lives working regular jobs until they are ordered to act on a mission.

According to reports, Tehran may now try to activate these covert spies – should they exist – after the U.S. joined Israel’s military operations against Iran.

Sleeper cells have been broken up in the U.S. in the past, such as in 2010 when 10 Russian sleeper agents were arrested and exchanged in a prisoner swap with Moscow.

Who are Iran’s allies?

Iran’s allies include some of the same groups and nations that oppose the U.S.’s role on the world’s stage.

Iran backs both the Lebanese militant force Hezbollah and Palestinian militants Hamas, and both groups would be considered allies of Iran. The Popular Mobilization Force in Iraq, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and Bashar Al-Assad’s loyalists before his ousting in Syria are all also supporters of Iran.

In Tel Aviv, Iran’s revenge has hit home that Israel risks a ‘forever war’

The country has also been supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine, and enjoys a relationship with Moscow. Similarly, Iran maintains a strategic and economic partnership with China.

What has the rest of the world said about the U.S. strikes?

The world’s response to Trump’s attack in Iran has been mixed, though most statements express concerns over what happens next.

Democrats

The Democrats have condemned Trump’s attack, accusing him of pushing the nation toward all-out war with Iran.

House Minority Leader Congressman Hakeem Jeffries issued a scathing response to Trump’s attacks.

“President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East,” Congressman Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “Donald Trump shoulders complete and total responsibility for any adverse consequences that flow from his unilateral military action.”

United Nations

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “gravely alarmed” by Trump’s action.

“This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security”, he said. “At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer cautioned Iran to seek a diplomatic response and insisted maintaining stability in the region was a priority, according to a statement from Downing Street.

Starmer warns of ‘risk of escalation’ following US strikes against Iran –

“Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,” Starmer said in a statement.

European Union

The European Union walked the line, saying that it agreed that Iran must be stopped from developing a nuclear weapon, but also urging restraint from both Tehran and the U.S. and Israel.

Israel

Israel praised Trump’s actions. “Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address. “History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”

Russia

Russia brushed off the attack, saying that it didn’t do anything to stop Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions.

The deputy head of President Vladimir Putin’s Security Council, former president Dmitry Medvedev, said in a statement that multiple nations would be willing to provide Iran with nuclear weapons — though he did not specify which — and said the strike caused minimal damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

China

The Chinese foreign ministry also “strongly condemned” the attack, saying they “seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East”

“China calls on the parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians, and start dialogue and negotiation,” the foreign ministry said on X. “China stands ready to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Latin/South America and Iran’s regional allies

Several Latin and South American nations with left-wing governments condemned Trump’s assaults. Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, and Chile, all voiced their opposition to the U.S.’s assault.

Iran’s allies, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, all strongly condemned the assaults in their very own statements.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-attack-questions-answered-b2774782.html